2015 State Fair Opinion Poll Minnesota State Senate Survey Results

Transcription

1 2015 State Fair Opinion Poll Minnesota State Senate Survey Results September 8, 2015 To: All Senators, staff and interested citizens Attached are the results of our State Fair opinion poll survey. This is an unscientific survey. It is simply a measurement of the opinions expressed by those individuals that visited the Senate Fair Booth within the Education Building and took the time to fill out our questionnaire. Our main purpose in conducting this opinion poll was to familiarize fair-goers with some of the issues that were considered during the past year, or may be dealt with in If you have any questions please feel free to contact us. Sincerely, Scott Magnuson, John Trombley and Charley Shaw Senate Information Office

2 Minnesota State Senate 2015 State Fair Poll Respondents should be of voting age. Please mark one answer per question TOTAL RESPONDENTS Demographics Gender Male 49.12% (2230) Female 48.88% (2219) No Answer 2.00% (91) Residence Minneapolis/St. Paul 35.63% (1618) Rural 13.04% (592) Suburban 45.74% (2077) Regional hub (Rochester, Duluth, etc.) 4.05% (184) Another state.99% (45) No Answer.55% (25) Age: % (309) % (543) % (705) % (1642) 65 and older 27.64% (1254) No Answer 1.85% (84) 1. Which source of energy should be the state s top priority in its efforts to reach carbon emission reduction goals? (One answer, please) A) Wind 25.65% (1158) B) Solar 35.18% (1588) C) Hydro (water) 4.56% (206) D) Geothermal (underground) 4.67% (211) E) Nuclear 15.68% (708) F) None of the above 5.34% (241) G) Undecided/No opinion 8.91% (402)

3 2. Should the video footage that law enforcement collects with body cameras be public or private? A) Strictly private 13.97% (635) B) Limited public access 62.10% (2822) C) Extensive public access 20.40% (927) D) Undecided/No opinion 3.52% (160) 3. Should eligible Minnesota residents automatically be registered to vote when they apply for or renew a driver s license, unless they decline? A) Yes 70.25% (3192) B) No 25.22% (1146) C) Undecided/No opinion 4.53% (206) 4. Minnesota recently added an early catch-and-release-only season that allows anglers to fish for bass (as long as they practice catch and release) before the start of the regular bass season. Should the state expand the catch-and-release-early seasons for other game fish species, such as walleye and northern pike or muskellunge? A) Yes 27.01% (1225) B) No 40.71% (1846) C) Undecided/No opinion 32.28% (1464) 5. Would you support legislation requiring employers to provide paid sick time for their employees? A) Yes, for all employers 47.79% (2167) B) Yes, but only for employers with 21 or more employees 23.95% (1086) C) No 22.63% (1026) D) Undecided/No opinion 5.62% (255) 6. In order to graduate, should Minnesota high school students be required to pass the same civics test that immigrants must pass before becoming U.S. citizens? A) Yes 75.66% (3435) B) No 16.98% (771) C) Undecided/No opinion 7.36% (334) 7. Should felon s voting rights be restored after they have been released from incarceration but haven t yet completed their probationary period? A) Yes 37.87% (1713) B) No 54.32% (2457) C) Undecided/No opinion 7.80% (353) 8. If Minnesota has a surplus prior to the 2016 legislative session, what should be the top priority for its use? (One answer, please.) A) Put it in a rainy day reserve fund for possible future budget shortfalls 18.63% (846) B) Make permanent tax reductions 11.43% (519)

4 C) Return the money to taxpayers in the form of a onetime rebate 9.76% (443) D) Increase spending on infrastructure needs such as transportation 26.29% (1194) E) Increase spending on education 17.11% (777) F) Increase spending on other priorities 1.59% (72) G) A combination of tax rebate/tax reduction/additional spending/rainy day reserve fund 14.36% (652) H) Undecided/No opinion.84% (38) 9. If a student cannot read at grade level at the end of third grade, should the student be held back a year? A) Yes 59.49% (2589) B) No 24.56% (1069) C) Undecided/No opinion 15.95% (694) 10. Should lead ammunition for hunting use be phased out in Minnesota? A) Yes, on all public and private land in Minnesota 63.86% (2780) B) Yes, but only on state/public land 9.24% (402) C) No 13.23% (576) D) Undecided/No opinion 13.67% (595) 11. Minnesota has significant infrastructure needs concerning the roads and bridges throughout the state. What is the best way to pay for these projects? A) An increase in the state s per-gallon gasoline tax 29.20% (1268) B) Collecting tolls from motorists 4.26% (185) C) Payments from the state s General Fund 9.24% (401) D) Capital investment or bonding 7.44% (323) E) All of the above 17.55% (762) F) A and B 5.50% (239) G) C and D 15.45% (671) H) Other 6.47% (281) I) Undecided/No opinion 4.88% (212) 12. Should state law requiring immunizations for children enrolled in public schools be changed to eliminate the current exemption for personal or religious beliefs? A) Yes, the exemption for personal or religious beliefs should be eliminated 59.34% (2586) B) No, the existing exemptions from immunizations should stay the same 34.33% (1496) C) Undecided/No opinion 6.33% (276) 13. What is your primary source for acquiring governmental or political information? A) Social networking sites: Twitter, Facebook, etc. 9.94% (425) B) Blog Web sites 4.30% (184) C) Newspapers (print versions) 28.17% (1205)

5 D) Newspapers (online versions) 17.49% (748) E) Television newscasts 15.69% (671) F) Radio newscasts 13.89% (594) G) Family/friends 2.50% (107) H) Newsletters, direct mailings, etc. 1.52% (65) I) Other 6.50% (278) 14. How accessible do you find your state legislators? A) Very accessible 23.91% (1024) B) Somewhat accessible 38.34% (1642) C) Not accessible 9.97% (427) D) I have never tried to contact my legislator 21.53% (922) E) Undecided/No opinion 6.26% (268)